Aerostructural balance.



vR. M. PAIJMIBR.l

AEROSTRUGTURAL BALANCE.

APPLICATION FILED mln 1s, 1911.

1,039,181, y JPatented sep1:-.24,1912.

R. M. PALMER.

AEROSTRUGTURAL BALANCE.

'Patented Sept. 24,1912.

. 2 slums-snm 2.

ROY-M. PALMER, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F GQLUMBIA.

AEROSTBUCTUBAL BALANCE.

spammen of Letters raient.

Patented Sept. 24, 19512.

muntbnnled June `1e, 1911. serial xfa-633,468.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatfI, ROY'M. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented. certain lnew and useful Improvements in Aerostructural Balances, ofwhich the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in aerostructures and has `particular reference to an automatic balancing device.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated means `for tilting the balancing planes or ailerons.

'A further object of the invention is to provide means for `maintaining the stability lof the'balancing planes or ailerons whenthe aerostruct-ure is in its normal or righted position.

Another object is' to provide a device of this character wherein the electrically operated means is controlled by a column of mercury. .v

Other objects and advantages will'be apparent from the following description, and with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 'Figure 1 isan end elevation of an aeroplane equi ped with my balancing device, Fig. 2 is a ront elevation of the same, Fig.3 is a front. elevation', of the machine tilted, Fig.4 isa diagrammatic View otxkthe wiringof the balancing device,

* ig. 5 is diagrammatic. View of a modifica- Referring to the drawings, 1() lrepresentsl the framework of a biplane, lland 12 representing respectively the upper and lower main planes. Pivotally mounted in the forward portion of the 'frame are the ailerons or balancing planes 13v and 14, respectively. The ailerons may be connected in any suitable manner so as tov tilt-simulta- -neously in opposite directions, the means shown being the pulleys 15 and 16, and the cords l17 and 18.

Arranged in the lower portion of the frame of the aerostructure is a bent tube 19, the angle of which points downwardly.y This tube has cast into each of the arms thereof the contacts 20, 21, 22, 23, on one arm,

energized, and thus keep the ailerons steady when theeaerostr'ucture is in righted position, and according to the degree of tilt imparted by the movement of the aerostructure the mercury will run over the contacts of one or the other'of the arms in succession.

In the lower point of the angle is cast a contact 24, the mercury always covering this contact. A

Arranged near each of the ailerons is a compound electromagnet 25, composed of the separate coils 26, 27, 28, and 29, arranged one above the other and insulated from'each other. The terminals of the second coil 27 are connected to the contact 22 and the wire 24;v leading from the contact 24, so that when the aerostructure tilts in the direction to cause the mercury to touch the Contact 23', a circuit will be established by means of the mercury through the contacts 22 and 24'an`d the source of power A, and energize the coil 27, of the magnet 25 'en the opposite side of the aerostructure. These coils are of the solenoid typeand have the core 30 therein. The energizin pf the first coil causes the core'oif one of t gfvmagnets to be drawn thereinto, and by means of its pivotalfconnection as at 31 to the aileron 13, the aileron 13 will be vtilted upwardly, while the aileron 14 through the connections 15, 16, 17 and 18 will be tilted downwardly to present greater surface on the downward side of the aerostructure to assistin regaining its balance. The secondl degree of tilt of the aerostructure causes the mercury to come in contact with the point 21', and thus tilt the ailerons a little farther, each successive degree of tilt moving the ailerons a little V farther in' opposite directions. The arrangement of the magnets and the bent tube is such that when the machine as seen in Fig. 3, tilts to the right, the mercury runs into the right hand arm of the tube, and causes the connections to be made to the magnets V25, andthe 1 `aileron 13, it being necessary in the use'of these ailerons to present the surface of the aileron on the upper side of the machine in a manner to prevent the upward movement thereof, while the aileron on the lower side of surface to prevent and resist downward movement. In this way the tiltvof 'the aerothe machine should be tilted to presentits ,i

with the 'tour contacts 31, 31', 32, 32' 33, 33'.

34:, and 34', the contacts 3l, 32, 33, and 34e controllin the tilt of the ailerons at one side of t e machine, while the contacts '31', 32', 33', and 34 control the ailerons on the other side oft the machine, the contact 35 being the common return tothe source of electricity. The contacts 3l and 31 are always incircuit, in a similar manner, and :for the same reasons as stated with respect to the contacts 23 and 23'. I

While l have shown particular terms of magnets and mercury tubes, l do not wish to limit myself to their exact construction. rlhe principle l wisli to protect being the control ot ailerons ci an aerostructure by means of the contacter a column ot mercury or other iiuid, to complete an electric circuit and energize the series ot coils in succession.

While li' have shown pulley and cord connections between the ailerons, l wish it to be understood that l may use any connections to insure the simultaneous opposite movement thereof.

What is claimed is: v

l., ln an aerostructure, an automatic balancing mechanism-comprising ailerons, connectionstherebetween, a shitting 'fluid col umn, an electrically operated means connected to the ailerons, said electrically operated means comprising a series ot superimposed electromagnets, whereby upon shitting ot the fluid column said electrically operated means will be energized to shift the ailerons at various degrees of inclination, and means for maintaining the sta- I' bility of the ailerons when said fluid column unnna source of electric energy, electrically returns to normal position.

2. ln an aerostructure, an automatic balancing mechanism comprising ailerons, con- I nections therebetween, a shitting 4fluid coloperated means tconnected. "to the ailerons and to the source oi? electric energy, said maaier electrically operated means comprising a series of superlmposed electromagnets, a

plurality of series of contact points adja ancing mechanism comprising ailerons, coni nections therebetween, a series ot superimposed electro-magnets connected to each of the ailerons,a shitting fluid column, a series of contacts adjacent the iiuid column, electrical connections between the contacts'and' the electromagnets, means :tor energizing one set of said electromagnets to hold said ailerons against movement when said duid column is normal, and means t'or energizing certain other of said electromagnets upon the shifting ot the duid column, whereby the ailerons are actuated to various degrecs of inclination.

4i. ln an aerostructure, an automatic balancing mechanism comprising ailerons, connections between the ailerons, electrically operated means arranged in succession and connected to the ailerons, a series oi contacts arranged in succession, a series ot electrical connections between the contacts and the electrically operated means, means actu-- ating by tilting-of the aerostructure for successively establishing a circuit in one or lmore oit the electrically operated means, whereby to actuate the ailerons at the requisite degree of inclination, andy means ttor establishing a circuit in said electrically operated, means for maintaining said aile-- rons in lined position when the aerostrueture is in normal position.

ln testimony whereof l ati-ir: my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

BUY M. PALMER.

lWitnesses Amann DENT, E. C. ifionfrnrns'ron. 

